Child and Family Law

 

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Main Description show detail >>
 
 
 
Department: Social Sciences Module Code: LAWS72003
Level: Level 7 Contact Hours: 14
Duration: 1 Semester Directed Study Hours: 0
Effective Term: 2013/14 Indep. Study Hours: 106
Credits: 6

Prerequisite Knowledge:

  None

Module Description/Aims:

  To understand the study of Irish Law
To gain an appreciation of the Irish Legal and Political System
To be able to explain the Sources of Irish Law
To enable the student to gain an appreciation of child and family law in Ireland.
To identify the legal position of the child and the family in the context of Irish, European and International society.
To comphrehend implied and expressed children and family rights and duties.
  


 
Contact Hours show detail >>
   
 
Contact Type Hours
Lecture8 Per Module
Tutorial6 Per Module


 
Learning Outcomes show detail >>
   
 
On successful completion of the module, the learner will be able to:
No. Description/Learning Outcomes
1To understand what law is, categorisations of the law, and differentiation between law , ethics and policy.
2To appreciate the Irish Legal, Judicial and Political systems
3To be able to source where Irish Law comes from
4To analyse the law as it relates to children and in particular child protection law
5To source the law as it relates to families and children in Ireland
6To comphrehend the legal position of the Irish Child and the various categories of Irish family
7To apply the Irish law of children and families to practical situations


 
Learning Strategies show detail >>
   
 
Learning Strategies
Oral lectures with modern teaching aids on various aspects of the topics referred to above.<br>
Class discussion on various aspects of the topics encouraging dialogue, debate and exchange of viewpoints amongst the students themselves.<br>
Research in specific topic areas in the institute library, on the internet, and through reading class handouts.<br>
Quizes on material covered.
Online Tutorials with in depth look at relevant material and class discussion and interaction


 
Indicative Syllabus Content show detail >>
   
 
Content Detail
Introduction to Law in IrelandIntroduction to what is law, the definition of the law, categories of the law. Brief Overview of the Irish Legal, Judicial and Political Systems, Sources of Irish Law
Family Law in IrelandThe scope of family law, the family defined, the Constitution and the family, non-marital families, the non-marital father and the non-marital mother and the child. Cohabitation. The nature of a valid marriage. Pre and post nuptial agreements. Engagements and legal issues arising therefrom. Nullity, Judicial Separation and Divorce. Financial and property issues arising from family disputes and separation. Family home protection. Succession rights. New techonologies and Assisted Human Reproduction. Law Reform. Domestic Violence Legislation.
Child ProtectionThe Childcare Act 1991 and Regulations thereunder. The Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998
The Protection of Persons reporting child abuse act 1998 and other child protection legislation.
Children and Human Rights. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. The European Convention on Human Rights. The European Union and Children. Children's Rights.
Status of children in Ireland and InternationallyThe Status of Children Act 1987. Registration of Births. Representation of Children in the Courts. Guardian ad litem provisions. Parental Rights and duties, the Guardianship of Infants Act 1964 as amended and guardianship,Custody and Access provisions. The New Child and Family Relationships Act 2015. The Welfare Principle. International Situations and Child abduction. Adoption. The Ombudsman for Children. Law Reform. The Child and the Criminal Law. Children and Sexual Offences


 
Assessment Strategies show detail >>
   
Assessment Strategies
Varied assessments drawn from list including essay involving research, portfolio of cases/articles, presentation on issues relating to children's rights,submission to government consultative processes relating to children, in class examination.
Repeat assessment strategy-a written scheduled examination in Autumn


 
Indicative Assessments show detail >>
   
Learning Outcome Assessment Category Assessment Method Additional Information % alloc
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7Continuous AssessmentAssignment - Out of ClassResearch in an area of Irish law relating to the Irish Legal and Political system, Sources of Law or the specific area of Child and Family Law 50
2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7Continuous AssessmentAssignment - In ClassIn Class exam - set questions 50


 
Reading List show detail >>
   
 
Type ISBN Title Author Publisher Year Edition Library Link
Essential9780717149773An introduction to Irish Family Law
Jim Nestor
Gill and MacMillan		20114th Edition-
Essential9780717149896Principles of Irish Law
Brian Doolan
Gill and McMillan		20118th edition-
Recommended9781858005249Child Law
Geoffrey Shannon
Thomson Roundhall		20102nd edition-
Recommended9781858001500Family Law Practitioner
Geoffrey Shannon
Thomson Roundhall		2000updated annually-
Recommended1854751247Family Law
Alan Shatter
Butterworths		19974th edition-
Recommended9780414032286Family Law
Louise Crowley
Roundhall 		20131st edition-
Recommended9781858006628Adoption Law
Geoffrey Shannon
Roundhall		20111st edition-
Recommended9781858006642Family Law
Geoffrey Shannon
Round Hall		20111st edition-
Recommended9781847669322Irish Family Law handbook
Deirdre Kennedy (edited by)
Bloomsbury Professional		20114th edition-
Recommended9780199589067Family Law in Ireland
Geoffrey Shannon and others
Oxford University Press		20114th edition-
Recommended9781858005003Family Law in a Nutshell
Louise Crowley
Round Hall		20081st Edition-


 
Journals and Websites show detail >>
   
 
Type Description
Websitehttp://www.nco.ie -National Childrens Organisation
Websitehttp://www.childrensrights.ie -Childrens Rights Alliance website.
Websitehttp://www.lexisnexis.co.uk - Butterworths law publishers website.
Websitehttp://www.irish-law.org - Dedicated Irish law sites. Wide range of links. Sources of Irish law
Websitehttp://www.bailii.org - Website of cases and materials relating to Irish, United Kingdom and Common law jurisdictions
Websitehttp://staffweb.itsligo.ie/gateway/default.asp Irish social care gateway
Websitehttp://www.irlgov.ie - website of the Irish government and government departments with access to legislation, policies and procedures.
Websitehttp://www.courts.ie -Central website on the courts and court system
Course MaterialFamily law Reports by Dr. Carol Coulter 2007 Volumes 1,2 and 3 and final report on pilot project on family law court reporting.
Websitehttp://www.lawreform.ie - website of the law reform commission with access to multiple reports on law reform including child and family law
Websitehttp://www.tcd.ie/law/lawhome.html Website of Law faculty in Trinity College Dublin
Websitehttp://www.treoir.ie -Website for unmarried parents and their extended families
Websitehttp:// www.aai.gov.ie/- Website of the adoption authority.
Websitewww.cso.ie/vitalstatistics - Central Statistics Office information on families and children
Websitehttp://www.dcya.gov.ie/-Department of Children and Youth affairs
Websitehttp://www.twcdi.ie/ Tallaght West Childhood Development Initiative
Websitehttp://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/ - General Citizens Information
Websitehttp://www.cosc.ie/ -The National Office for the Prevention of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence
Websitehttp://www.hiqa.ie/ - Health Information and Quality Authority
Websitehttp://www.nda.ie/- National Disability Authority
Websitehttp://www.oco.ie/ - Ombudsman for Children
Websitehttp://www.ihrc.ie/ - Irish Human Rights Commission
Websitehttp://www.unicef.org/ United Nations International Childrens Fund
Websitehttp://www.westlaw.ie - Library portal to Legal Resources
Websitehttp://www.childlawproject.ie - Court reports on child care cases
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Curricular information is subject to change